Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM7’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM7’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous and sturdy growth habit and rapid growth rate; dark greyed purple-colored leaves; numerous inflorescences with deep red-colored flowers; and good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Botanical designation: Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM7’.

Cultivar denomination: ‘JM7’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant hereby assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Crapemyrtle plant, botanically known as Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM7’ and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘JM7’.

The new Crapemyrtle plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Poplarville, Miss. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new vigorous and freely-branching Crapemyrtle plants with dark-colored leaves and attractive flower colors.

The new Crapemyrtle plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor during the summer of 2018 of Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM1’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,585, as the female, or seed, parent with Lagerstroemia indica ‘18LI’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,086, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Crapemyrtle plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in May, 2019 as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled nursery environment in Poplarville, Miss.

Asexual reproduction of the new Crapemyrtle plant by vegetative softwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Poplarville, Miss. since August, 2019 has shown that the unique features of the new Crapemyrtle plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘JM7’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘JM7’ as a new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Vigorous and sturdy growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   4. Dark greyed purple-colored leaves.     -   5. Numerous inflorescences with deep red-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance and pathogen resistance.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘JM1’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘JM1’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are dark greyed         purple in color whereas leaves of plants of ‘JM1’ are dark green         in color.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are deep red in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘JM1’ are dark red to dark         red purple in color.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘18LI’. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘18LI’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more vigorous and faster         growing than plants of ‘18LI’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more freely branching than         plants of ‘18LI’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are deep red in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘18LI’ are vivid purple in         color.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of Lagerstroemia indica, ‘Ebony Flame’, not patented. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Ebony Flame’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more vigorous and faster         growing than plants of ‘Ebony Flame’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are broader and         darker purple in color than leaves of plants of ‘Ebony Flame’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Crapemyrtle are deep red in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Ebony Flame’ are dark purple         in color.

Plants of the new Crapemyrtle can be compared to plants of the Lagerstroemia indica ‘Whit IV’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,342. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Crapemyrtle differ primarily from plants of ‘Whit IV’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more vigorous than plants         of ‘Whit IV’.     -   2. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Whit IV’.     -   3. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have dark greyed purple-colored         leaves whereas plants of ‘Whit IV’ have dark green-colored         leaves.     -   4. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are resistant to leaf spot         (Cercospora lythracearum) whereas plants of ‘Whit IV’ are not         resistant to leaf spot.     -   5. Plants of the new Crapemyrtle are more resistant to powdery         mildew (Erysiphe lagerstroemia) than plants of ‘Whit IV’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Crapemyrtle plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Crapemyrtle plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘JM7’ grown in a container in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering stem of ‘JM7’ grown in a container in an outdoor nursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-gallon containers in Park Hill, Okla. and Fort Worth, Tex. in outdoor nurseries and under cultural conditions which closely approximate commercial Crapemyrtle production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 33° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were two years when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lagerstroemia indica ‘JM7’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica disclosed in             U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,585.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Lagerstroemia indica ‘18LI’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,086. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative softwood and hardwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 25 days at             temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About one             month at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About one             month for softwood cuttings and about two months for             hardwood cuttings at temperatures about 21° C. to 33° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             brownish white in color, actual color is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright to             somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous and             sturdy growth habit; rapid growth rate.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about four to             six primary branches each with numerous secondary and             tertiary lateral branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 155 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 80 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 123 cm.         -   Diameter, proximally.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.2 cm to 2 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—About 45° from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; woody and glabrous with age;             matte.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 185A and 183A to 183B.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 177A becoming closer to 199B to             199C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 4.5 cm to 5.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.5 cm to 3 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse with cuneate tendencies.         -   Margin.—Entire; developing leaves, slightly to moderately             undulate; developed leaves, not undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; dull.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A to             147B becoming closer to N186A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146A becoming closer to N186C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N186A; venation,             close to 183A and N186A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to more green than N186C and 183A; venation,             close to N186A and 183A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; somewhat glossy. Strength: Strong. Color, upper             surface: Close to 147A overlain with close to 186A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 183A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type, arrangement and habit.—Showy single ruffled             flowers arranged in terminal panicles; freely flowering             habit with usually about 50 flower buds and flowers             developing per inflorescence and numerous inflorescences             developing during the flowering season; flowers face upright             and outwardly; flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Crapemyrtle             flower during the late summer and autumn in Central Texas.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 10 cm to 15 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10 cm to 13 cm.         -   Flower length.—About 1.9 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.6 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm to 2.1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm to             7 mm. Shape: Obovate to spherical. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Proximally, close to 144A;             distally and sutures, close to 59A to 59B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Six arranged in             a single whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm.             Shape: Roughly orbicular. Apex: Rounded, undulate, ruffled             appearance. Base: Rounded. Margin: Mostly entire with             shallow sinuation, undulate, ruffled appearance. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             soft/velvety; delicate; matte. Color: When opening, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 53A to 53C. Fully opened, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 53A to 53C; colors do not             change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower and arrangement: Five to six             arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 6 mm to 7 mm.             Width: About 4 mm to 5 mm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute.             Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; semi- glossy. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color:             When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 144B             to 144C. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 144A; towards the margins, close to 59A to 59B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 6 mm to 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm             to 2 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: About 45° to             50° from stem axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Color: Proximally, close to 59A to 59B;             distally, close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About             12 to 18. Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color: Close             to 65B. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong.             Anther color: Close to 7A. Amount of pollen: None observed.             Gynoecium: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             1.1 cm to 1.5 cm. Style length: About 1 cm to 1.3 cm. Style             color: Close to 58A to 58B to 55A. Stigma appearance:             Spherical to oblong. Stigma color: Close to NN137A becoming             closer to 55A with development. Ovary: Close to 7A becoming             closer to 10B to 10C with development.         -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development has             not been observed on plants of the new Crapemyrtle. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −10° C. to about 38° C. and to be     cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Crapemyrtle have been     observed to be resistant to leaf spot (Cercospora lythracearum) and     powdery mildew (Erysiphe lagerstroemia). Plants of the new     Crapemyrtle have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Crapemyrtle plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Crapemyrtle plant named ‘JM7’ as illustrated and described. 